House of Windsor Barking Dog

I used to smoke Barking Dog 40 years ago. After reading the P&T review, I got some of the newly released stuff from House of Windsor. It is quite nice to smoke, lights and burns evenly, leaving a fine grey ash. Out of the pouch it is not wet at all and you need to be sure it doesn't get too dry. The cut is fairly coarse and don't try to pack it too tightly for the best smoke. Try it!

They say this is a "Drug store blend" If so, maybe I need to start going to the drug store more often to buy my tobacco. Not really, my tobacconist just happens to carry most of the House of Windsor blends. He knows good pipe tobacco when he smokes it. Barking Dog, may not be my first choice for a smoke, but I won't turn my nose up to it either. It is differnt. Not an English, not an aromatic, not a natural. What is it? The motto on the box states "Barking Dog, never bites" I'd almost disagree with that, if it was not for the above tobacconist advising me of the nuancies of smoking this tobacco. It must be sipped. Don't puff on your pipe like a blast furnace, for if you do, you will be rewarded with a mighty tounge bite. So true, I made that mistake. However, if you sip it gently, you will be rewarded with many differnt tastes. Burley? Latakia? was that Perique in there? What was that flavore, eminating from the light casing placed on the tobacco? House of Windsor has brought back to the pipe smoker, tastes from the past, when we were not all in such a hurry. Sit back, go slow, and this might be the tobacco for you.

I discovered this blend after seeing the ad for and article on House of Windsor in P&T. I was intrigued by the retro packaging and the ad that features the antique photo of two hunters sitting by the road with their pipes and dogs. I couldn't resist that photo. Hey, I'm a sucker for good marketing. I thouroughly enjoyed this blend. After smoking many high-end blends over the years, I didn't have high excpectations for this stuff in a box. I smoke a lot of English blends and this was a nice variation. There is a little sweetness to it and it's light enough to smoke in the morning or all day. The room note is agreeable to those who usually flee from Latakia. I will definitley keep this one around with my collection of lighter Latakia blends.

I like this tobacco very much. It is said to be an old fashion "American" blend by many reviewers. I do not know if this is a true statement but find it a good friendly combination of chunky Burley and Latakia. I am a fan of the so called drug store blends and have a different outlook then most on these blends. I find it amazing that they have stood the test of time, and being they have maybe these manufacturers know what American smokers want. House of Windsor should be congradulated for producing a line of tobacco's that actually have "textures" that vary from other over the counter blends. Looking forward to trying other blends in the line.

random sized cube cut, showing some dark and light mottling in the cubes. Smells like a Burley base with some Latakia, and maybe a bit of Va. Packs easily, lights well, burns evenly and very cool. A very old fashioned American smoke, I enjoyed it occasionally.